Posted
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Unknown Lameron Wednesday November 13, 2013 @01:09PM
from the now-do-it-with-a-reprap dept.

Daniel_Stuckey writes "At the start of this year, President Obama nicely summed up the grandiose promise of 3D printing — or rather, the hype surrounding it. In his State of the Union address the president suggested the fledgling technology could save manufacturing by ushering in a second industrial revolution. That shout-out inspired a spate of buzzkill blog posts pointing out — rightly enough — that despite its potential, 3D printing is still in its infancy. It's not the panacea for the struggling economy we want it to be, at least not yet. Apparently the naysayers weren't enough to kill the 3D-printing dream, because, with support from the federal government, MakerBot announced its initiative to put a 3D printer in every school in America. The tech startup and the administration are betting big that teaching kids 3D printing is teaching them the skills they'll need as tomorrow's engineers, designers, and inventors."
Caveat: Makerbot no longer produces open hardware, and they are pushing proprietary Autodesk software and educational materials as part of the free 3D printer. Makerbot also launched a call for open models of math manipulatives on Thingiverse (you might remember them from elementary school) so that teachers have something useful to print immediately.

A home computer in 1980 could do way more than any cheap piece of plastic one of these printers will ever produce. Those kids would be better off with VIC-20's and Sinclairs, and they would be a lot cheaper.

A home computer in 1980 could do way more than any cheap piece of plastic one of these printers will ever produce. Those kids would be better off with VIC-20's and Sinclairs, and they would be a lot cheaper.

I have to agree with this one.

My youngest daughter is now in middle school, 7th grade. Her school did not get a Makerbot donated to them, but they did purchase one for the computer lab. I have issue with this, but not because they have a 3D printer. It's because they spend money like this constantly (this isn't the only purchase they've made that I have issue with) and yet they do not even have the proper course materials available for students.

The API is the STL file format, which is pretty open. Just about any CAD program can generate one. Thats fed into either the Makerbot slicer or the open source Skeinforge slicer to generate the X3G files that get sent to the 'Bot. What do you want to do that needs more openness than that?

WTF is "locked in"? Or what is a "locked in printer" in general for that matter? I have one, I use it nearly every day, and if there is anything "locked in" Im completely missing it. I do use 123D Design for modeling, but also Sketchup and Solidworks and Ive tried others and they happily interoperate. I get PLA from China, aftermarket parts from eBay, and Makerbot even supports that. Their website [makerbot.com] even promotes open source 3d modeling software.

They learn little by pressing "print". However, if the school is teaching students how to create the models and all of the prerequisites leading up to that, then they learn a lot. Advanced classes can expand on that by allowing students to create new object solutions to problems they see.

Oh, and the schools can possibly increase the use of manipulative models in their classrooms by printing them instead of purchasing them from someone else. This also allows teachers to more innovative by modifying the manip

The country is increasingly filled with parking lots laid out by people who 'know how to design.' That is: parking lots where it's a fricking nightmare to park your car because you have to navigate in and around all the islands and berms that probably looked so nice on the layout screen of the CAD program. The whole world is turning grotesquely baroque (please forgive the redundancy) because we have generations of empowered 'designers' who didn't have to do the low level work of implementing anything.

Funny, I was thinking parking lots were a nightmare, because they were designed by people who live in areas where the Prius is considered a "large car" and they parking lot is in Phoenix, Arizona where nearly half of all vehicles on the road are full-size pickup trucks.

MakerBot is the bottom end of 3D printers. Like an EZ-Bake oven compared to a microwave oven. If such printers are the wave of the future then reasonable tools should be introduced instead, like printers that can create something that looks and feels like a real product that are at least within the ballpark of traditional shop tools.

How about auto repair? I think it's a good place to start with mechanical skills because everybody owns a car, and knowing some basics will save you money even if you don't choose to do much yourself, let alone be employed in the field. It exposes you to mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, and some actual motivation to fabricate or recondition parts in a subsequent shop class.

This is so true. I can't count the number of friends that I have that have no idea how to change a flat, check oil levels, check tire pressure or even add windshield washer fluid, or even change a burned out tail-light bulb."

Their response is always, "I'll call AAA, the tires don't look flat, that's what the oil changes are for..."

I can't count the number of friends that I have that have no idea how to change a flat, check oil levels, check tire pressure or even add windshield washer fluid, or even change a burned out tail-light bulb." Their response is always, "I'll call AAA, the tires don't look flat, that's what the oil changes are for..."

When I asked my parents to sign an application for a learner's permit they told me they would be happy to do so after I demonstrated that I could check tire pressure, add air and change a tire; check and add oil, radiator fluid and wiper fluid. Later my Dad made me learn to drive a manual transmission. My regular car while learning was an automatic and I tested in this car but my Dad had me drive a manual a little bit too. He didn't recommend getting manual, he just thought I should know how to drive one ju

I don't recall that baking a loaf of will get someone out of immediate danger given that baking a loaf of bread takes quite a few hours. Most of that is you standing around waiting for it to either a. rise of b. bake in the oven. If you are waiting for either, you are most likely NOT in danger and are probably sitting on your couch watching TV or doing something else that is not as important as changing a flat tire on the side of the road.

How about auto repair? I think it's a good place to start with mechanical skills because everybody owns a car, and knowing some basics will save you money even if you don't choose to do much yourself, let alone be employed in the field. It exposes you to mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, and some actual motivation to fabricate or recondition parts in a subsequent shop class.

I get the impression that that would be frowned up on as a deviation from the 'if something scary or unexpected happens, your dealer is your only hope' trajectory that vehicle manufacturers seem hellbent on going down.

On the plus side, people still get to ask that question. We've gotten to the point where it would be relatively inexpensive to 'chip' many of the major FRUs, printer cartridge style, to allow the car to grab a timestamp(and if it has OnStar or an equivalent, it'll be a good timestamp) when a new part is installed, impose time or milage based expiration/replacement intervals, and reject 3rd party components that don't fully implement the authentication system... That would be fun.

There is now a sensor with a wireless link in each wheel hub in every new automobile. It measures tire air pressure and sends the status wirelessly to the car chassis computer. It spins round and round in the wheels. And it adds a significant amount to the cost of the car, and an even more significant amount to replacing the air stem in your car if it fails.

This entire initiative, as great as it is, ignores a small problem: We aren't raising our children to be builders, we're raising them to be consumers. Consumers have no initiative, and see no point in things like shop class, or building things... afterall, isn't that why we import indians and chinese?

Also, as soon as some high school student builds a gun with the 3D printer, that'll go away.

Nah. I've heard this argument since I was a kid. Sure we are consumers, we are also producers. It is easier than ever to make things. There is a guide or place to ask how to make ANYTHING on the internet. If I am motivated to make or fix something on my own, I have the guidance to start at it immediately.

And in terms of building this online on our computers, there are more tools than ever out there. With unity I can make a game quite easily, and if I don't want that much detail I can get things like gamemak

The reason it has been around so long, perhaps is an indicator it has merit.

Sure we are consumers, we are also producers.

Find me something within arm's reach that has Made In America on it. Chances are, there isn't one; And odds are very, very good, it won't be one of the first five things you grab.

It is easier than ever to make things. There is a guide or place to ask how to make ANYTHING on the internet. If I am motivated to make or fix something on my own, I have the guidance to start at it immediately.

I think I see a flaw in your cunning plan; You aren't motivated. You're just saying that if you were, then yeah, shit could happen. But it ain't happening... because you, like hundreds of millions of others, don't want to.

Look, people are lazy, we have always been lazy, very few people are doing productive things with their time 24x7 outside of their jobs, if that. That is nothing new.

Okay, hold on to that for a minute and then consider again the statement you're upset about: We're consumers, not builders.

just because companies are trying to entice us with advertising doesn't mean we have guns to our head and have no choice in the matter.

"guns to our head", phrase: It means "I am deeply conservative". Because really, you types are the only ones that ever think there's a gun to your head... and perhaps only a miniscule amount of guns have ever been put to the heads of anyone uttering this line. Basically, if you utter this phrase, I put you in the moron category and move on, because your arguments will invariably be bullshit propaganda, with a side of cognitive distortion, served on the silver platter of self-importance.

Look... I just said we're creating a culture of consumers. That's why nobody wants to build anything; Instant gratification. Everybody's a winner. You can have it all! It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it. We're teaching our kids that you don't need to work hard to succeed -- you just need to open your mouth and let someone shove spoonfuls of product into it.

"The reason it has been around so long, perhaps is an indicator it has merit."No, that's an argumentum ad antiquitatem. Just because it is old does not mean it is good. The bible and its ideas are quite old and tenacious, but that does not necessarily mean they have any merit.

Just wanted to point that out, and would like to indicate that if you google "how to win every argument", you'll end up with a PDF of a quite nice book detailing the argumentative fallacies.

I think it's more that we've spent all the years since WW2 telling kids that they should not do work that gets their hands dirty, that they need degrees and business suits, not tools and skills, that bluecollar jobs are beneath their dignity as a college graduate. So now we have two and three generations who have no idea how to build anything physical. *Naturally* they're consumers.

We can live without accountants and programmers and car salesmen. We cannot live without carpenters and plumbers and mechanics

You have an interesting point and I've been feeling the same way for some time. I've been feeling less and less satisfied with just consuming content that others have made and have been taking steps towards creating my own stuff. Right now that's just some hobby coding for a new project, but I have to say it's INCREDIBLY satisfying once you get going.

But... as you said, you need to be motivated. The first step is finding out how to become motivated. Creating something requires far more effort than just cons

Also, as soon as some high school student prints a gun with the 3D printer, that'll go away.

Yes, just like metal shop went away because students built zip guns (and some "real", if primitive, guns)? Oh, wait, that happened, but high school metal shop only (mostly) went away once, as a culture, we decided that being a pencil-pushing office drone is generally a desirable job, but the dirty work of manufacturing products is an undesirable job. Nobody in rich school districts wants the school to waste Johnny's time teaching him to work with his hands when he'll never need that (we know he'll have a be

I'm not sure that is more useful. Don't you think we're moving towards additive machining rather than subtractive? The numbers of machinists have been dwindling steadily in the USA, both automotive and general. In the automotive case, centralized rebuilders have taken over most of the business. What would really be useful would be welding, but that's really fairly dangerous stuff and best kept in the colleges. I'm ambivalent about having machining in high schools for that reason as it is. Wood shop is a goo

Amen to that. A Makerbot is a huge maintenance load. They need a lot of fiddling and constant maintenance and replacement parts that a school teacher isn't going to have time or money to do. These machines will sit in a corner collecting dust and frustration. Much like the one we have here, in an office full of engineers.

I'd be fine with a shop class full of nothing but hand tools. Cheaper for the school, lower liability costs, and the students will learn the same set of problem solving and building sk

Exactly my thoughts. I was so envious of my brother who went through school years ahead of me. He was able to take metal shop, learn to run a mill, lathe and to weld. By the time I got to high school the metal shop had been shuttered. I was still able to take auto mechanics for a couple semesters and got good at fixing cars. But I'd really love to learn how to weld properly. Yeah...a 3D printer will allow you to build plastic crap that will break and you'll have to make a new one - which fits our disposable

Your location and its culture had a lot to do with that. Many manual machine tools from the WWII era are still in use and making money, not least because they are irreplaceable nowadays in the larger sizes.

We were taught to use them regularly. If they didn't suit our needs we needed to do the rest in our head. They were portable, too; though not interchangeable with other sets. They also came at no cost to the school (though I did know some kids who had only 5, at no fault of their own).

There are high school programs that have 3D printers. The kids develop the skills over a number of years to do useful things with them. The 3D printer is one of the many carrots for learning the skills.

Here is one area where a 3D printer can encourage students to learn a skill. Suppose that you were reverse engineering some object with many pieces Each student would have to measure and design a piece in the CAD software. Now, most students do not understand why good measurement is necessary, or why they need to make an effort to draw the object exactly, or how many measurements are really needed. So each student draws and the pieces are put together in the software, and adjustments are made because the pieces are not going to fit exactly. Eventually the group of students gets something that fits together in the software and prints. Inevitably one or two pieces are not going to fit together in the physical prototype, debugging will have to happen, and much learning will go on.

The problem is that such a process is long, there are not many grades involved, and students who are not motivated and curios tend not to benefit very much. There has to be a reason to have a tool in the classroom, and a understanding of how it is going to be used. otherwise it will, like the laser printer, be used to print shoes.

I think this is really the only case to be made for 3d printers / CNC in schools. If I ran a private school, there would be a class where students partnered up - each designs a simple project, produces shop drawings and hands it off to their partner, who makes their product and vice versa.

Do i think a kid can unpack a markerbot, download a design for Eiffel towers and start printing them immediately? yes.I would expect kids to do this and see how easy and powerful a tool it will be. Then ease them into making modifications and then designing their own inventions from scratch.

So just because something might break means we shouldn't use it? I know that the use of different tools in woodshop gave me much more ways to work on my projects, and even broken parts gave insight into how they worked and how to repair them. For instance, film projectors stuttering is most often due to damaged film or faulty loop sizes.

Since 1962 the per-pupil costs of public schools has quadrupled [ed.gov] (inlation-adjusted — the nominal increase is 25-times!), while the results remain just as — if not even more — disappointing. Indeed, merely 30% of 8th-graders are deemed proficient in reading [mediamatters.org]. Will a "makerbot" help solve this fundamental problem? Somehow I doubt it...

I made no such assertions — my point was, adding more money did not help improve results.

so when you try to wave a statistic like "merely 30% of 8th-graders are deemed proficient in reading" when that is actually the same rate it was back when education was "much less expensive" (by your standards) you don't really have a leg to stand on.

My leg is in that we got — by your own admission — the same (at best) results despite paying more for

The money is going to new buildings and facilities. The local building contractors have a lot of clout with the school board, and they don't get to do nearly enough 'full price top-of-the-line' construction jobs for the private sector.

Whatever the problem is, adding more money will not help solve it — that's the point... At best, things will stay the same (just at higher costs). At worst, the pie will become juicy enough to attract outright criminals...

I wouldn't say 'idiotic' -- I believe you don't need to fix all the problems in the world before you're allowed to do new things.
That said, I come from a family of teachers, and that insight leads me to agree with you. I'm especially offended by teachers buying school supplies out of pocket. If I, an employee of a large organization, had to buy office supplies out of pocket, I'd assume the company was on its way down the toilet or at the very least had major management problems. Teachers are somehow con

Feed your kids breakfast. Teach them respect for authority. Remove shiny attention-span robbers from the house. Teach them to learn first. A Makerbot just throws money at it, layers more crap on top of a rocky foundation, and kicks the can of responsibility down the road.

I suppose if I had breakfast in school I might have been easier to handle, but I am was a stubborn child and night owl so I never wanted food before like 10am. Of course I watched too much tv and learned quite a bit from it, considering how put down it is. And don't get started on how I went to summer camp on a college campus at 11 where we put in front of teletype and taught to type in and compile basic programs because it was kind of cheaper babysitting for working parent. I mean that was awful for my f

What is the difference between Obama printing money to fill his socialist dreams, and Maduro sending armed troopers in electronic stores to lower prices a gun point to give every venezuelian a cheap 50" TV set ?

Great idea. Record sales and profits for Makerbot, and a broken-down dust catcher in the corner of every classroom. Meanwhile, the teachers will still be sending notes home at the beginning of each school year asking for donations of paper, pens and pencils, and other basic supplies.

I think a makerspace in every school makes more sense. No, fossils, a makerspace is not the same thing as shop class. Teaching kids to code, work with CAD programs, and see the result print out on printers not only teaches STEM more effectively to the kids who are wired to like STEM anyway, but makes the process more accessible to kids who are, say, arty or sporty. So putting 3D printers like Fab@Home's would make more sense than MakerBot because it's more versatile, and gene-sequencing machines, centrif

I'm extremely impressed that 3d printers will be seen as the economic boon they actually will be, instead of the Luddite approach of crying that it will kill thousands of manufacturing jobs - which it will, of course, but that doesn't mean at all that it will be a net economic negative.

Well eventually, anything you need that's smaller than, say, a person, you could just print. Shoes, chairs, clothing, furniture with some assembly required, tools, etc. Maybe simple electronics? Depends how good the printers get. Everyone would print their own things individually. So manufacturing jobs that make those things will go down the drain. Of course you still need raw materials, those jobs would be safe.

Although the problems with closed-source Makerbot printers and proprietary software from Autodesk are standard/. fare, I think the real issue with the 3d printing hype is how disconnected people are from actually making things themselves without the use of CNC equipment.
I think it's also why people are so obsessed with food, it is the only DIY thing most people do anymore.

Given my experiences with regular printers in High Schools, (tracking down some random student who had printed a few dozen pages of profanity to a shared printer), I'd imagine there will be a proliferation of many "interesting" phallic-shared objects coming through these printers...

My high school had a 1 million dollar computer lab gifted to it. That was quite a bit in 1990s money considering that I had a graduating class of under 40! The problem was that the only teacher who knew anything about computers was the band teacher. He was good, don't get me wrong but his musical love/responsiblities came first and he didn't really have time to teach computer class. After he struggled to fit in a programming class for 1 semester he realized he couldn't do it. After that about the most advanced thing in the room was Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing!

Maybe school teachers are more techically proficient today? I doubt it! Even if they are.. with all the finiky settings that go into getting a 3d printer to work right, and all the failure prone parts that go into one... I don't see how this can possibly work!

Look, scoff all you want, but here at the UW we can now use 3D printers to literally print compostable objects using the same "plastic" we use to make forks and spoons and plates from that are compostable - to grow more food.

Think about it.

Reusable chairs and tables that can be composted. Fashion footwear you can throw in the yard waste bin to be turned back into food when they're out of fashion.

You really don't get it, do you.

(follow the UW links for Sustainable products at green.washington.edu if you don'

Hate to say it, but composting 3d printed materials is every bit as likely as biodegrading biodegradable plastic bags. Not every home (or apartment complex) has a composing unit, nor a use for the final product.

This leaves two options: ship the 3d printed refuse where it can be used, or throw it in the general trash cycle. Until it becomes ubiquitous, it won't get shipped commercially (IE with "recyclable" items.

If you can't get folks to "properly dispose" of batteries or fluorescent bulbs or electronic

It's embarassing b/c essentially its the same thing as that plastic mold machine at tourist attractions that can make you a plastic souvenier of the Washington Monument.

At least those "mold-a-rama" machines demonstrate real-world manufacturing techniques. There are a hell of a lot more injection molding machines out there cranking out parts than there are 3D printers, that's for sure.

Makerbot/Thingiverse also deletes designs for products they don't like [slashdot.org], so they can go to hell. Of course, their behavior resulted in an all-too-predictable Streisand effect [defdist.org], so it was actually quite beneficial in a strange way, but that doesn't change my opinion of them.

I'd guess he got a plastic framework to establish correct parabolic figure and a correctly-positioned mounting point to locate the feed antenna at the focus, and then covered it with metal foil, mesh, or wires for reflectivity.

Replace "google" with "encyclopedia" and you take me back to my middle school days. Teachers say the same thing, fact is kids don't take certain things seriously till they get older, cause they are kids. I didn't, but do now that I'm older, yet I don't expect my perceived wisdom to suddenly transpose onto the generation behind me. They will be saying the same things about the generations behind them though.

I do agree with you though, if there is one constant it is a teacher's inability to handle technology.